Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe describes the current drought in mid-Missouri as horrific for farmers. Lt. Governor Kehoe tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that there was no rainfall at all at his Phelps County farm in April. Mr. Kehoe is also warning farmers and ranchers about hay scams. The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) has also been warning about hay scams. MDA has received reports from farmers who paid for hay upfront through a wire transfer, only to have no hay delivered. Lt. Governor Kehoe tells listeners that one of his friends in Wardsville was almost scammed too:
(AUDIO): Kehoe touts working-class upbringing in Missouri gubernatorial campaign video
Hundreds of people packed Jefferson City’s Capital Bluffs venue Tuesday evening, as Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) launched his 2024 gubernatorial campaign.
Kehoe has also unveiled a new online video called “Living Proof.”
“I grew up here in north St. Louis City. Growing up, I didn’t have a famous father, or a father at all. He left when I was one, leaving a single mother to raise six kids. There was no entitlement. I did odd jobs around the neighborhood to pay for my high school. I didn’t go to college. I went to work washing cars, here, to earn money so that my siblings and I could help our single mother make ends meet,” Kehoe says in the video.
He also talks in the video about how he turned around mid-Missouri’s Osage Ambulance company.
“Missouri has taught me, no matter what, there is always hope,” Kehoe says in the video.
Kehoe tells his supporters that he’s the only candidate for governor who is ready on day one to make our communities safer, control spending and protect freedoms.
He’s expected to face Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) in the August 2024 GOP primary. GOP Governor Mike Parson has said this will be his final term. The Missouri Democratic gubernatorial primary will also be in August 2024.
Mike Kehoe served on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission before being elected to the state Senate in 2010, replacing term-limited State Sen. Carl Vogel (R-Jefferson City). Senator Vogel has since passed away. Kehoe was re-elected to the Senate in 2014, and Governor Parson appointed him as lieutenant governor in 2018 after then-Governor Eric Greitens resigned. Kehoe was elected to a full term as lieutenant governor in 2020, earning more than 58 percent of the vote to beat Democrat Alissia Canady.
(AUDIO): Missouri celebrates National Agriculture Week
Missouri’s lieutenant governor says agriculture is critical to the state’s economy. Jefferson City Republican Mike Kehoe notes the governor has signed a proclamation recognizing National Agriculture Week in Missouri.
“If people could only understand, when they go in that grocery store and they get a product off of the shelf or out of the cooler case … what it all took to get there, they’d be amazed,” Kehoe says.
Kehoe tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that agriculture is Missouri’s largest industry, with a $93-billion economic impact. You can hear the full interview with the lieutenant governor here on our 939 the Eagle Facebook page.
(AUDIO): Missouri’s governor rides a John Deere tractor to work
Jefferson City-area motorists noticed Missouri’s governor and lieutenant governor driving their John Deere tractors to work this morning.
They began at the Governor’s Mansion and made their way to the Capitol lawn, a few blocks away. It’s all part of FFA week. Missouri FFA executive secretary Teresa Briscoe tells 939 the Eagle that several hundred FFA students from across Missouri joined the the governor this morning.
“I believe that event was started by (Missouri) Governor Parson. There should be around three hundred students there. And typically we have a proclamation signing for FFA week,” Briscoe says.
Governor Mike Parson is signing a proclamation recognizing FFA Week, and a career exploration event is also being held this morning in Jefferson City.
“This year we’ll have panel discussions with entrepreneurs that have a variety of educational levels past high school. Where it may be an apprenticeship, may be a two-year college, four-year or postgraduate degree,” says Briscoe.
The 95th annual State FFA convention is planned for April 20-21 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia.
Parson, Kehoe to address Missouri pork producers and commodity group leaders on Tuesday
Missouri’s governor and lieutenant governor will keynote Tuesday night’s Missouri Pork Expo in Osage Beach.
Missouri Pork Association (MPA) spokeswoman Diane Slater tells 939 the Eagle that about 600 people are expected to attend the two-day expo, which is underway this morning at Margaritaville Lake resort.
Ms. Slater says Governor Mike Parson and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe will speak at this evening’s banquet. Lynch Livestock is hosting today’s barbecue lunch. The lunch is free to all students.
The event promotes the pork industry and distributes information from current research. The Missouri Pork Association has about 300 members, according to Slater. More than 90 booths are featured at today’s trade show at Margaritaville.
Governor Parson says the pork industry contributes more than $1-billion annually to the state’s economy. MPA executive vice president Don Nikodim has told 939 the Eagle that the pork industry is responsible for about 25,000 to 30,000 jobs statewide.